Sierra Nevada Hoptimum

I am spoiled . My taste has become completely jaded and biased. Sierra Nevada's Hoptimum should be one of my favorite beers. It isn't.

So maybe this year's batch was a bit off, but after the likes of my recent experiences with 21A Hop Crisis, Hopslam, Double Trouble, Harpoon Leviathan (IPA), Deviant Dale's, Sculpin, etc, etc. Hoptimum just didn't cut it. I truly feel terrible even typing that, especially because I keep various flavors of SN beers sitting around the house (they know how to do hoppy), but also because I was expecting to have my mind blown. Lesson learned...don't ever get your hopes up. That said, Hoptimum still rates significantly higher than average for me...its just that it doesn't work next to the above-mentioned beers.

Anyway, Hoptimum is SN's whole cone hop DIPA. It is just over 10% ABV, but drinks on the mild side. While this is a good thing, the brew is lacking somewhere. It is obviously up against some really stiff competition (other impy IPAs and my palate). Upon opening, the aroma is lacking. There isn't the punch that I was expecting. it pours nicely, though and has the right carbonation - not a ridiculous head. The taste is as underwhelming as the aroma (for a DIPA)...its good, but it isn't incredible. At the rate that these 4-packs flew off the shelves, I was expecting more...maybe people in Atlanta suck. Scratch that. People in Atlanta do suck. Hoptimum is a great IPA, but it is just a good DIPA...

ohtheguilt Ba score = 4.0 out of 5.0